Early life

Ronaldo was born in São Pedro, Funchal, and grew up in the Funchal parish of Santo António,[4][5][6] as the youngest child of Maria Dolores dos Santos Aveiro, a cook, and José Dinis Aveiro, a municipal gardener and a part-time kit man.[7] His second given name, "Ronaldo", was chosen after then-U.S. president Ronald Reagan.[8] He has one older brother, Hugo, and two older sisters, Elma and Liliana Cátia,[2] his great-grandmother on his father's side, Isabel da Piedade, was from São Vicente, Cape Verde.[9] Ronaldo grew up in a Catholic and impoverished home, sharing a room with his brother and sisters.[10]

As a child, Ronaldo played for amateur team Andorinha from 1992 to 1995,[11][12] where his father was the kit man,[13] and later spent two years with Nacional. In 1997, aged 12, he went on a three-day trial with Sporting CP, who signed him for a fee of £1,500,[14][15] he subsequently moved from Madeira to Alcochete, near Lisbon, to join Sporting's other youth players at the club's football academy.[16] By age 14, Ronaldo believed he had the ability to play semi-professionally, and agreed with his mother to cease his education in order to focus entirely on football.[17] While popular with other students at school, he had been expelled after throwing a chair at his teacher, who he said had "disrespected" him.[17] However, one year later, he was diagnosed with a racing heart, a condition that could have forced him to give up playing football, he underwent an operation in which a laser was used to cauterise the affected area of his heart; discharged from hospital hours after the procedure, he resumed training only a few days later.[18]

Club career

Sporting CP

Ronaldo memorabilia at Sporting CP's museum

At age 16, Ronaldo was promoted from Sporting's youth team by first-team manager László Bölöni, who was impressed with his dribbling,[19] he subsequently became the first player to play for the club's under-16, under-17 and under-18 teams, the B team, and the first team, all within one season.[16] A year later, on 7 October 2002, Ronaldo made his debut in the Primeira Liga, against Moreirense, and scored two goals in their 3–0 win,[20] over the course of the 2002–03 season, his representatives suggested the player to Liverpool manager Gérard Houllier and Barcelona president Joan Laporta.[21][22] Manager Arsène Wenger, who was interested in signing the winger, met with him at Arsenal's grounds in November to discuss a possible transfer.[23]

Ronaldo came to the attention of Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson in August 2003, when Sporting defeated United 3–1 at the inauguration of the Estádio José Alvalade in Lisbon. His performance impressed the Manchester United players, who urged Ferguson to sign him.[24] Ferguson himself considered the 18-year-old "one of the most exciting young players" he had ever seen.[25][26] A decade after his departure from the club, in April 2013, Sporting honoured Ronaldo by selecting him to become their 100,000th member.[27]

Manchester United

2003–06: Development and breakthrough

Ronaldo became Manchester United's first-ever Portuguese player when he signed before the 2003–04 season,[28] his transfer fee of £12.24 million made him, at the time, the most expensive teenager in English football history.[29] Although he requested the number 28, his number at Sporting, he received the number 7 shirt, which had previously been worn by such United players as George Best, Eric Cantona and David Beckham.[30][31] Wearing the number 7 became an extra source of motivation for Ronaldo.[31] A key element in his development during his time in England proved to be his manager, Alex Ferguson, of whom he later said, "He's been my father in sport, one of the most important and influential factors in my career."[32]

"There have been a few players described as 'the new George Best' over the years, but this is the first time it's been a compliment to me."

—Former Manchester United player George Best on the 18-year-old Ronaldo in 2003[33]

Ronaldo made his debut in the Premier League in a 4–0 home victory over Bolton Wanderers on 16 August 2003, receiving a standing ovation when he came on as a 60th-minute substitute for Nicky Butt.[34][35][36] His performance earned praise from George Best, who hailed it as "undoubtedly the most exciting debut" he had ever seen.[33] Ronaldo scored his first goal for Manchester United with a free-kick in a 3–0 win over Portsmouth on 1 November.[37] Three other league goals followed in the second half of the campaign,[38][39] the last of which came against Aston Villa on the final day of the season, a match in which he also received his first red card.[40] Ronaldo ended his first season in English football by scoring the opening goal in United's 3–0 victory over Millwall in the FA Cup final, earning his first trophy.[41]

Ronaldo playing against Chelsea in the Premier League during his third season in England

At the start of 2005, Ronaldo played two of his best matches of the 2004–05 season, producing a goal and an assist against Aston Villa and scoring twice against rivals Arsenal.[42][43][44][45] After scoring four goals in United's run to the FA Cup final,[46][47][48][49] he played the full 120 minutes of the decisive match against Arsenal, which ended in a goalless draw, and scored his attempt in the lost penalty shootout.[50] Ronaldo scored three braces during the next campaign, the 2005–06 season, scoring two goals each against Bolton Wanderers,[51]Fulham,[52] and Portsmouth.[53] He scored Manchester United's 1000th Premier League goal on 29 October, their only strike in a 4–1 loss to Middlesbrough.[54] Midway through the season, in November, he signed a new contract which extended his previous deal by two years to 2010.[55] Ronaldo won his second trophy in English football, the Football League Cup, after scoring the third goal in United's 4–0 final victory over Wigan Athletic.[56]

During his third season in England, Ronaldo was involved in several incidents, he had a one-match ban imposed on him by UEFA for a "one-fingered gesture" towards Benfica fans,[57] and was sent off in the Manchester derby—a 3–1 defeat—for kicking Manchester City's former United player Andy Cole.[58] Ronaldo clashed with a teammate, striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, who took offence at the winger's showboating style of play.[59] Following a training ground fight in January 2006, the two again fought in May, with Van Nistelrooy telling Ronaldo to "go crying to your daddy", a reference to Ronaldo's relationship with assistant manager Carlos Queiroz.[60] Van Nistelrooy was left on the substitutes' bench for the final game of the season against Charlton Athletic—a 4–0 victory in which Ronaldo scored his ninth league goal.[61][62] Following the 2006 FIFA World Cup, in which he was involved in an incident where club teammate Wayne Rooney was sent off,[63][64] Ronaldo publicly asked for a transfer, lamenting the lack of support he felt he had received from the club over the incident.[65][66] United, however, denied the possibility of him leaving the club.[67][68]

Although his World Cup altercation with Rooney resulted in Ronaldo being booed throughout the 2006–07 season,[69] it proved to be his breakout year, as he broke the 20-goal barrier for the first time and won his first Premier League title. An important factor in this success was his one-to-one training by first-team coach René Meulensteen, who taught him to make himself more unpredictable, improve his teamwork, call for the ball, and capitalise on goalscoring opportunities rather than waiting for the chance to score the aesthetically pleasing goals for which he was already known.[70] His upturn in form was showcased in November when he received a standing ovation from a section of Blackburn Rovers supporters as he was substituted,[71] he scored three consecutive braces at the end of December, against Aston Villa—a victory which put United on top of the league—Wigan Athletic, and Reading.[72][73][74] Ronaldo was named the Premier League Player of the Month in November and December, becoming only the third player to receive consecutive honours.[75][76]

Ronaldo scored a total of 42 goals in all competitions during the 2007–08 season, his most prolific campaign during his time in England, his first goal of the season came against his former club, Sporting, with a header in the first group match of the Champions League.[88] He missed three matches after headbutting a Portsmouth player at the start of the season, an experience he said taught him not to let opponents provoke him,[89][90] but still managed to score 13 league goals by the campaign's midway point.[91][92][93][94] At the end of 2007, Ronaldo was named runner-up to Kaká for the Ballon d'Or,[95] and came third, behind Kaká and Lionel Messi, in the running for the FIFA World Player of the Year award.[96]

"Ronaldo is better than George Best and Denis Law, who were two brilliant and great players in the history of United."

Ronaldo scored his first and only hat-trick for Manchester United in a 6–0 win against Newcastle United on 12 January 2008, bringing United up to the top of the Premier League table.[98] A month later, on 19 March, he captained United for the first time in a home win over Bolton, and scored both goals of the match,[99] his second goal was his 33rd of the campaign, which bettered George Best's total of 32 goals in the 1967–68 season, thus setting the club's new single-season record by a midfielder.[100] Ronaldo scored his final league goal of the season from the penalty spot in the title decider against Wigan on 11 May, as United claimed a second successive Premier League title,[101] his 31 league goals earned him the Premier League Golden Boot,[102] as well as the European Golden Shoe, which made him the first winger to win the latter award.[103]

In the knockout stage of the Champions League, Ronaldo scored the decisive goal against Lyon, which helped United advance to the quarter-finals 2–1 on aggregate,[104] and, while playing as a striker, scored with a header in the 3–0 aggregate victory over Roma.[105] Despite him missing a penalty in the first leg against Barcelona,[106] United eventually advanced to the final in Moscow, where they faced Chelsea,[107] his opening goal was negated by an equaliser as the match ended in a 1–1 draw, but although his penalty was saved in the shoot-out,[108] Manchester United emerged victorious,[109][110] as the Champions League top scorer, Ronaldo was named the UEFA Club Footballer of the Year.[111] He additionally received the PFA Players' Player of the Year and FWA Footballer of the Year awards for the second consecutive season.[112][113]

As rumours circulated of Ronaldo's interest in moving to Real Madrid,[114][115] United filed a tampering complaint with governing body FIFA over Madrid's alleged pursuit of their player, but they declined to take action.[116][117] FIFA president Sepp Blatter asserted that the player should be allowed to leave his club, describing the situation as "modern slavery",[118] despite Ronaldo publicly agreeing with Blatter,[119][120] he remained at United for another year.[121][122][123] Ahead of the 2008–09 season, on 7 July, he underwent ankle surgery,[124] which kept him out of action for 10 weeks.[125] Following his return, he scored his 100th goal in all competitions for United with the first of two free kicks in a 5–0 win against Stoke City on 15 November,[126] which meant he had now scored against all 19 opposition teams in the Premier League at the time.[127] Five days later, he received the third red card of his career when he was sent off against Manchester City,[128] at the close of 2008, Ronaldo helped United win the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan,[129] assisting the final-winning goal against Liga de Quito and winning the Silver Ball in the process.[130][131] He subsequently became United's first Ballon d'Or winner since George Best in 1968,[132][133] and the first Premier League player to be named the FIFA World Player of the Year.[134]

Ronaldo scored his first Champions League goal of the season, and his first since the final against Chelsea, in a 2–0 victory over Inter Milan, sending United into the quarter-finals,[135] his match-winning goal in the second leg against Porto, a 40-yard strike, earned him the inaugural FIFA Puskás Award, presented by FIFA in recognition of the best goal of the year;[136] he later called it the best goal he had ever scored.[137][138] He scored twice against Arsenal, including a free kick from 39 yards, as United advanced to the final in Rome,[139] where he made little impact in United's 2–0 defeat to Barcelona.[140][141] Ronaldo ended his time in England with nine trophies, as United claimed their third successive Premier League title and a Football League Cup,[142][143] he finished the campaign with 26 goals in all competitions, 16 goals fewer than the previous season, in four more appearances.[144] His final ever goal for Manchester United came on 10 May 2009 with a free kick in the Manchester derby at Old Trafford.[145]

Real Madrid

2009–12: World record transfer and La Liga championship

"I have nothing but praise for the boy. He is easily the best player in the world, his contribution as a goal threat is unbelievable. His stats are incredible. Strikes at goal, attempts on goal, raids into the penalty box, headers, it is all there. Absolutely astounding."

As his usual number 7 was unavailable, Ronaldo wore number 9 during his first season at Madrid. Following Raúl's departure, Ronaldo was handed the number 7 shirt before the 2010–11 season

Ronaldo made his debut in La Liga on 29 August 2009, against Deportivo La Coruña, and scored from the penalty spot in Madrid's 3–2 home win,[155] he scored in each of his first four league fixtures with the club, the first Madrid player to do so.[156] His first Champions League goals for the club followed with two free kicks in the first group match against Zürich,[157] his strong start to the season, however, was interrupted when he suffered an ankle injury in October while on international duty, which kept him sidelined for seven weeks.[158][159] A week after his return, he received his first red card in Spain in a match against Almería.[160] Midway through the season, Ronaldo placed second in the running for the Ballon d'Or and the FIFA World Player of the Year award, behind Lionel Messi of Barcelona, Madrid's historic rivals. He finished the campaign with 33 goals in all competitions, including a hat-trick in a 4–1 win against Mallorca on 5 May 2010, his first in the Spanish competition,[161][162] his first season at Real Madrid ended trophyless.[163]

Following Raúl's departure, Ronaldo was handed the number 7 shirt for Real Madrid before the 2010–11 season,[152] his subsequent return to his Ballon d'Or-winning form was epitomised when, for the first time in his career, he scored four goals in a single match during a 6–1 rout against Racing Santander on 23 October.[164] His haul concluded a goalscoring run of six consecutive matches—three in La Liga, one in the Champions League, and two for Portugal—totalling 11 goals, the most he had scored in a single month. Ronaldo subsequently scored further hat-tricks against Athletic Bilbao, Levante, Villarreal, and Málaga.[165][166][167] Despite his performance, he failed to make the podium for the inaugural FIFA Ballon d'Or at the end of 2010.[168]

During a historical series of four Clásicos against rivals Barcelona in April 2011, Ronaldo scored twice to equal his personal record of 42 goals in all competitions in a single season, although he failed to find the net during Madrid's eventual elimination in the Champions League semi-finals, he equalised from the penalty spot in the return league game and scored the match-winning goal in the 103rd minute of the Copa del Rey final, winning his first trophy in Spain.[169][170] Over the next two weeks, Ronaldo scored another four-goal haul against Sevilla,[171][172] a hat-trick against Getafe,[173] and a brace of free kicks against Villarreal, taking his league total to 38 goals, which equalled the record for most goals scored in a season held by Telmo Zarra and Hugo Sánchez.[174] His two goals in the last match of the season, against Almería, made him the first player in La Liga to score 40 goals;[175][176] in addition to the Pichichi Trophy, Ronaldo consequently won the European Golden Shoe for a second time, becoming the first player to win the award in two different leagues.[177] He ended his second season at Real Madrid with a total of 53 goals in all competitions.

Ronaldo scored 46 league goals during the La Liga championship success in his third season in Spain

During the following campaign, the 2011–12 season, Ronaldo surpassed his previous goalscoring feats to achieve a new personal best of 60 goals across all competitions,[178] his 100th goal for Real Madrid came at Camp Nou in the Supercopa de España, though Barcelona claimed the trophy 5–4 on aggregate.[179] He regained a place on the FIFA Ballon d'Or podium, as runner-up to Messi, after scoring hat-tricks against Real Zaragoza, Rayo Vallecano, Málaga, Osasuna, and Sevilla, the last of which put Madrid on top of the league by the season's midway point.[180][181][182][183][184] Despite two goals from Ronaldo, Madrid were subsequently defeated by Barcelona 4–3 on aggregrate in the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey, he again scored twice, including a penalty, in the Champions League semi-finals against Bayern Munich, resulting in a 3–3 draw, but his penalty kick in the shootout was saved by Manuel Neuer, leading to Madrid's elimination.[185]

Ronaldo found greater team success in the league, as he helped Real Madrid win their first La Liga title in four years, with a record 100 points. Following a hat-trick against Levante, further increasing Madrid's lead over Barcelona,[186] he scored his 100th league goal for Madrid in a 5–1 win over Real Sociedad on 24 March 2012, a milestone he reached in just 92 matches across three seasons, breaking the previous club record held by Ferenc Puskás.[187] Another hat-trick in the Madrid derby against Atlético Madrid brought his total to 40 league goals, equalling his record of the previous season,[188] his final league goal of the campaign, against Mallorca, took his total to 46 goals, four short of the new record set by Messi,[189] and earned him the distinction of being the first player to score against all 19 opposition teams in a single season in La Liga.[190]

Ronaldo began the 2012–13 season by lifting the Supercopa de España, his third trophy in Spain, with a goal in each leg by the Portuguese, Madrid won the Spanish Super Cup on away goals following a 4–4 aggregate draw against Barcelona.[191] Although Ronaldo publicly commented that he was unhappy with a "professional issue" within the club, prompted by his refusal to celebrate his 150th goal for Madrid,[192] his goalscoring rate did not suffer, after netting a hat-trick, including two penalties, against Deportivo La Coruña, he scored his first hat-trick in the Champions League in a 4–1 victory over Ajax.[193] Four days later, he became the first player to score in six successive Clásicos when he hit a brace in a 2–2 draw at Camp Nou,[194] his performances in 2012 again saw Ronaldo voted second in the running for the FIFA Ballon d'Or, finishing runner-up to four-time winner Messi.[195]

2012–14: Consecutive FIFA Ballon d'Or wins and La Décima

Following the 2012–13 winter break, Ronaldo captained Real Madrid for the first time in an official match, scoring a brace to lift 10-man Madrid to a 4–3 victory over Real Sociedad on 6 January,[196][197] he subsequently became the first non-Spanish player in 60 years to captain Madrid in El Clásico on 30 January, a match which also marked his 500th club appearance.[198] Three days prior, he had scored his 300th club goal as part of a perfect hat-trick against Getafe.[199] Following hat-tricks against Celta Vigo and Sevilla,[200][201] he scored his 200th goal for Real Madrid on 8 May in a 6–2 win against Málaga, reaching the landmark in 197 games,[202] he helped Madrid reach the Copa del Rey final by scoring a brace in El Clásico, which marked the sixth successive match at Camp Nou in which he had scored,[203] a Real Madrid record.[191] In the final, he headed the opening goal of an eventual 2–1 defeat to Atlético Madrid,[204] but was shown a straight red card in the 114th minute for violent conduct.[205][206] Real Madrid also failed to defend their La Liga title, finishing runners up to Barcelona.

In the first knockout round of the Champions League, Ronaldo faced his former club Manchester United for the first time, after scoring the equaliser in a 1–1 draw at the Santiago Bernabéu,[207] he scored the match-winning goal in a 2–1 victory at Old Trafford, his first return to his former home grounds.[208] Ronaldo scored three goals in Madrid's 5–3 aggregate victory over Galatasaray to see them advance to the semi-finals,[209][210] He scored Madrid's only goal in the 4–1 away defeat to Borussia Dortmund,[211] but failed to increase his side's 2–0 victory in the second leg, as they were eliminated at the semi-final stage for the third consecutive year.[212] Ronaldo had scored 12 goals, finishing as the Champions League top goalscorer for a second time in his career. Accounting for all competitions, he ended the season with a total of 55 goals.

Ronaldo scored a record 17 goals during the 2013–14 La Décima campaign

Real Madrid's failure to win major silverware and reports of division among the players prompted speculation regarding Ronaldo's future at the club.[213][214][215] At the start of the 2013–14 season, however, he signed a new contract that extended his stay by three years to 2018, with a salary of €17 million net, making him briefly the highest-paid player in football.[216][217] He was joined at the club by winger Gareth Bale, whose world record transfer fee of €100 million surpassed the fee Madrid had paid for Ronaldo four years prior.[218] Together with striker Karim Benzema, they formed an attacking trio popularly dubbed "BBC", an acronym of Bale, Benzema, and Cristiano,[219] after enjoying a strong goalscoring run during the first half of the campaign, Ronaldo suggested that he was in the best form of his career.[220] By late November, he had scored 32 goals from 22 matches played for both club and country, including hat-tricks against Galatasaray, Sevilla, Real Sociedad, Northern Ireland, and Sweden.[221][222][223][224][225] He ended 2013 with a total of 69 goals in 59 appearances, his highest year-end goal tally,[226] his efforts earned him the FIFA Ballon d'Or, an amalgamation of the Ballon d'Or and the FIFA World Player of the Year award, for the first time in his career.

Concurrently with his individual achievements, Ronaldo enjoyed his greatest team success in Spain to date, as he helped Real Madrid win La Décima, their tenth European Cup; in the knockout phase of the competition, he scored a brace in each leg of a 9–2 aggregate win against Schalke 04,[227] helping Madrid advance to the quarter-finals. His goal in a 3–0 home win over Borussia Dortmund—his 100th Champions League match—took his total for the season to 14 goals, equalling the record Messi had set two years before.[228][229][230] After hitting a brace in a 4–0 defeat of Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena,[231] he scored from the penalty spot in the 120th minute of the 4–1 final victory over Atlético Madrid, becoming the first player to score in two European Cup finals for two different winning teams.[232] His overall performance in the final was subdued as a result of patellar tendinitis and related hamstring problems, which had plagued him in the last months of the campaign. Ronaldo played the final against medical advice, later commenting: "In your life you do not win without sacrifices and you must take risks."[233] As the Champions League top goalscorer for the third time, with a record 17 goals,[234][235] he was named the UEFA Best Player in Europe.[236]

In the Copa del Rey, Ronaldo helped Madrid reach the final by scoring a brace of penalties against Atlético Madrid at the Vicente Calderón,[237] the first of which meant he had now scored in every single minute of a 90-minute football match.[238] His continued issues with his knee and thigh caused him to miss the final,[233][239] where Real Madrid defeated Barcelona 2–1 to claim the trophy.[240] While Madrid were less successful in La Liga, finishing third, Ronaldo was unmatched as a goalscorer, he scored 31 goals in 30 league games, which earned him the Pichichi and the European Golden Shoe, receiving the latter award jointly with Liverpool striker Luis Suárez.[241] Among his haul was his 400th career goal, in 653 appearances for club and country, which came with a brace against Celta Vigo on 6 January; he dedicated his goals to compatriot Eusébio, who had died two days before.[242] A last-minute, backheeled volley scored against Valencia on 4 May—his 50th goal in all competitions—was recognised as the best goal of the season by the Liga de Fútbol Profesional,[243][244] which additionally named Ronaldo the Best Player in La Liga.[245]

"Cristiano Ronaldo is changing the game in Spain. With all that pace and power and athleticism, he is driving Real Madrid back into dominance both there and in Europe."

During the next campaign, the 2014–15 season, Ronaldo set a new personal best of 61 goals in all competitions, starting with both goals in Real Madrid's 2–0 victory over Sevilla in the UEFA Super Cup,[247][248] he subsequently achieved his best-ever goalscoring start to a league campaign, with a record 15 goals in the first eight rounds of La Liga, including a four-goal haul against Elche and hat-tricks against Deportivo La Coruña and Athletic Bilbao.[249][250][251][252] His record 23rd hat-trick in La Liga, scored against Celta Vigo on 6 December, made him the fastest player to reach 200 goals in the Spanish league, as he reached the milestone in only his 178th game,[252][253] after lifting the FIFA Club World Cup with Madrid in Morocco,[254] again winning the Silver Ball,[255][256] Ronaldo received a second successive FIFA Ballon d'Or,[257][258] joining Johan Cruyff, Michel Platini, and Marco van Basten as a three-time Ballon d'Or winner.[259][260]

2014–17: All-time Real Madrid top scorer and La Undécima

Ronaldo scored a personal best of 61 goals in all competitions during the 2014–15 season

Following the winter break, Ronaldo's form faltered, concurrently with a decline in performance by his team.[261] A 2–1 defeat against Valencia in the first match of 2015, despite his opening goal, ended Real Madrid's Spanish record winning streak of 22 matches in all competitions,[262] their season continued unsuccessfully as they failed to win a major trophy, earning a second-place league finish and a semi-final exit in Europe.[263] In the latter competition, Ronaldo extended his run of scoring away to a record 12 matches with his strike in a 2–0 win against Schalke 04,[264] before hitting a brace in the 3–4 return defeat that allowed Madrid to progress to the quarter-finals,[265] he then scored both of his side's goals in the semi-finals against Juventus, where Madrid were eliminated 2–3 on aggregate.[266] With 10 goals, he finished the campaign as top scorer for a third consecutive season, alongside Messi and Neymar.[267]

In La Liga, where Madrid finished second, Ronaldo went on a prolific goalscoring run towards the very end of the season, for the first time in his career, he scored five goals in one game, including an eight-minute hat-trick, in a 9–1 rout of Granada on 5 April.[268] His 300th goal for his club followed three days later in a 2–0 win against Rayo Vallecano.[269] Subsequent hat-tricks against Sevilla, Espanyol, and Getafe took his number of hat-tricks for Real Madrid to 31, surpassing Di Stéfano's club record of 28 trebles,[247][270] as a result, Ronaldo finished the season with 48 goals, two ahead of his total in the 2011–12 season, despite having missed two matches in February for assaulting a Córdoba player.[271] In addition to a second consecutive Pichichi, he won the European Golden Shoe for a record fourth time.[247][272]

At the start of his seventh season at Real Madrid, the 2015–16 campaign, Ronaldo became the club's all-time top scorer, first in the league and then in all competitions, his five-goal haul in a 6–0 away win over Espanyol on 12 September took his tally in La Liga to 230 goals in 203 games, surpassing the club's previous recordholder, Raúl.[273][274] A month later, on 17 October, he again surpassed Raúl when he scored the second goal in a 3–0 defeat of Levante at the Bernabéu to take his overall total for the club to 324 goals.[note 5] Ronaldo also became the all-time top scorer in the Champions League with a hat-trick in the first group match against Shakhtar Donetsk, having finished the previous season level with Messi on 77 goals.[277] A brace against Malmö FF, scoring in a 2–0 away win on 30 September, saw him reach the milestone of 500 career goals for both club and country,[278][279] he subsequently became the first player to score double figures in the competition's group stage, setting the record at 11 goals, including another four-goal haul against Malmö.[280][281]

By March 2016, Ronaldo had scored 252 goals in 228 matches in La Liga to become the competition's second-highest scorer

Despite finishing runner-up to Messi for the FIFA Ballon d'Or,[282] Ronaldo received criticism for his form and performances against top teams, with 14 of his goals coming against Espanyol and Malmö.[283][284] However, during the second half of the season, his form gradually improved.[285] By scoring four goals in a 7–1 home win over Celta de Vigo on 5 March 2016, Ronaldo arrived at 252 goals in La Liga to become the competition's second-highest scorer in history behind Messi,[286] after netting the match-winning goal for 10-man Madrid in a 2–1 Clásico victory on 2 April,[287] he scored a hat-trick against VfL Wolfsburg to send his club into the Champions League semi-finals despite a 2–0 first-leg defeat.[288] The treble took his tally in the competition to 16 goals, making him the top scorer for the fourth consecutive season and the fifth overall.[289] Suffering apparent fitness issues, Ronaldo gave a poorly-received performance in the final against Atlético Madrid, in a repeat of the 2014 final, though his penalty in the subsequent shoot-out secured La Undécima, Madrid's 11th victory.[290][291] For the sixth successive year, he ended the season having scored more than 50 goals across all competitions,[290] for his efforts during the season, he received the UEFA Best Player in Europe Award for a second time.[292]

"The boy lived for the game – everything else was built to fit around it"

2017–present: La Duodécima and fifth Ballon d'Or

In Real Madrid's 3–2 away win against Villarreal on 27 February 2017, Ronaldo overtook Hugo Sánchez as the most prolific penalty-kick scorer in La Liga history,[303][304] as a result of the penalty scored by Ronaldo, Real Madrid reached its 5,900th goal in the history of the league and became the first team to do so.[305] On 12 April, in the 2016–17 UEFA Champions League quarter-final against Bayern Munich, Ronaldo scored two goals in a 2–1 away win to give Madrid the win and the lead going into the second leg, the two goals saw him make history in becoming the first player to reach 100 goals in UEFA club competition.[306] During the second leg of the quarter-finals, Ronaldo scored a perfect hat-trick and reached his 100th UEFA Champions League goal, becoming the first player to do so as Real Madrid again defeated Bayern 4–2 after extra-time,[307] on 2 May, Ronaldo scored another hat-trick in the following Champions League match, as Real defeated Atlético Madrid 3–0 in the semi-final first leg. His hat-trick made him the first player to reach 50 goals in the knockout stage of the competition.[308]

On 17 May, Ronaldo overtook Jimmy Greaves as the all-time top-scorer in the top five European leagues, scoring a brace against Celta de Vigo,[309] he finished the season with 42 goals in all competitions as he helped Madrid to win their first La Liga title since 2012[310][311] and the first team to win back-to-back finals in the Champions League era; the first to win consecutive European titles in the competition since Milan in 1989 and 1990, when the tournament was known as the European Cup.[312] In the 2017 final, he scored two goals in the victory against Juventus and became the top goalscorer for the fifth-straight season, and sixth overall, with 12 goals, while also becoming the first person to score in three finals in the Champions League era as well as reaching his 600th senior career goal.[313] Real Madrid's title was its 12th, also known as La Duodécima, extending its record, and its third in four years.[314][315]

At the start of the 2017–18 season, Ronaldo scored Madrid's second goal in a 3–1 Supercopa de España first-leg victory over Barcelona at Camp Nou. Having received a yellow card for taking his top off during his goal celebrations, he was sent off for a second yellow card offence minutes later before he shoved the referee lightly to depict his dissatisfaction,[316] he was handed a five-match ban following the game.[317][318] In his 400th game for Real Madrid, Ronaldo scored two goals away to Borussia Dortmund in the Champions league, taking his tally to 411 goals,[319] on 23 October his performances in the first half of 2017 saw him claim his fifth FIFA Player of the Year award by receiving The Best FIFA Men's Player award for the second consecutive year.[320] On 6 December Ronaldo became the first player to score in all six Champions League group stage matches with a curling strike at home to Borussia Dortmund.[321] A day later, 7 December, Ronaldo won the Ballon d'Or for a fifth time in his career, receiving the award on the Eiffel Tower in Paris,[322] on 3 March 2018, he scored two goals in a 3–1 home win over Getafe, his first being his 300th La Liga goal in his 286th La Liga appearance, making him the fastest player to reach this landmark, and only the second player after Lionel Messi.[323] On 18 March, he reached his 50th career hat-trick, netting four goals in a 6–3 win against Girona FC.[324]

International career

2001–06: Youth level and early international career

A Portuguese international, Ronaldo began his youth career in 2001. Apart from the under-15 team, he also represented the under-17, under-20, under-21, and under-23 national sides, amassing 34 youth caps and scoring 18 goals overall,[325] he represented his country at the 2002 UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship, where they failed to progress past the group stage.[20] Ronaldo also featured in the Olympic squad at the 2004 Summer Olympics, scoring one goal in the tournament, though the team was eliminated in the first round, finishing bottom of their group with three points after 4–2 defeats to eventual semi-finalists Iraq and quarter-finalists Costa Rica.[326][327]

At age 18, Ronaldo earned his first senior cap in a 1–0 victory over Kazakhstan on 20 August 2003,[328] he was subsequently called up for UEFA Euro 2004, held in his home country,[329] and scored his first international goal in a 2–1 group stage loss to eventual champions Greece.[330] After converting his penalty in a shootout against England at the quarter-final stage,[331] he helped Portugal reach the final by scoring the opening goal in a 2–1 win over the Netherlands,[332] but the crucial last match ended in a 0–1 defeat.[333] He was featured in the team of the tournament, having provided two assists in addition to his two goals.[334][335]

Ronaldo was the second-highest scorer in the European qualification for the 2006 FIFA World Cup with seven goals,[335] during the tournament, he scored his first World Cup goal against Iran with a penalty kick in Portugal's second match of the group stage.[336] In the quarter-finals against England, his Manchester United teammate Wayne Rooney was sent off for stamping on Portugal defender Ricardo Carvalho, although the referee later clarified that the red card was only due to Rooney's infraction,[337] the English media speculated that Ronaldo had influenced his decision by aggressively complaining, after which he was seen in replays winking at Portugal's bench following Rooney's dismissal.[338] Ronaldo was subsequently booed during their 1–0 semi-final defeat to France.[339] FIFA's Technical Study Group overlooked him for the tournament's Best Young Player award, citing his behaviour as a factor in the decision.[340]

2006–12: Assuming the captaincy

Ronaldo, pictured playing against Germany at Euro 2012, was made captain in 2008

One day after his 22nd birthday, Ronaldo captained Portugal for the first time in a friendly game against Brazil on 6 February 2007,[341] as requested by Portuguese Football Federation president Carlos Silva, who had died two days earlier.[342] Ahead of Euro 2008, he was given the number 7 shirt for the first time.[343] While he scored eight goals in the qualification,[344] the second-highest tally, he scored just one goal in the tournament, netting the second goal of their 3–1 win in the group stage match against the Czech Republic, where he was named man of the match.[345] Portugal were eliminated in the quarter-finals with a 3–2 loss against eventual finalists Germany.[346]

After Portugal's unsuccessful performance in the European Championship, Luiz Felipe Scolari was replaced as coach by Carlos Queiroz, formerly the assistant manager at United.[347] Queiroz made Ronaldo the squad's permanent captain in July 2008.[348] Ronaldo failed to score a single goal in the qualification for the 2010 World Cup, as Portugal narrowly avoided a premature elimination from the tournament with a play-off victory over Bosnia.[349] At the group stage of the World Cup, he was named man of the match in all three matches against Côte d'Ivoire, North Korea, and Brazil.[350][351][352] His only goal of the tournament came in their 7–0 rout of North Korea,[353] which marked his first international goal in 16 months.[354] Portugal's World Cup ended with a 1–0 loss against eventual champions Spain in the round of 16.[355]

Ronaldo scored seven goals in the qualification for Euro 2012, including two strikes against Bosnia in the play-offs, to send Portugal into the tournament, where they were drawn in a "group of death".[356] After the opening 0–1 defeat to Germany, he also failed to score in the 3–2 win against Denmark, missing two clear one-on-one chances,[357][358] he redeemed himself in the last group match against the Netherlands, where he scored twice to secure a 2–1 victory,[359] and the quarter-finals against the Czech Republic, scoring a header to give his team a 1–0 win.[360][361] He was named man of the match against both opponents,[362][363] after the semi-finals against Spain ended scoreless, with Ronaldo having sent three shots over the bar,[364] Portugal were eliminated in the penalty shootout. Ronaldo did not take a penalty as he had been slated to take the unused fifth,[365] a decision that drew criticism.[366][367][368] As the joint top scorer with three goals, alongside five other players, he was again included in the team of the tournament.[369]

2012–16: All-time Portugal top scorer and European champion

Ronaldo evades club teammate Luka Modrić during a friendly match against Croatia in June 2013

During the qualification for the 2014 World Cup, Ronaldo scored a total of eight goals. A qualifying match on 17 October 2012, a 1–1 draw against Northern Ireland, earned him his 100th cap,[370] his first international hat-trick also came against Northern Ireland, when he found the net three times in a 15-minute spell of a 4–2 qualifying victory on 6 September 2013.[371] After Portugal failed to qualify during the regular campaign, Ronaldo scored all four of the team's goals in the play-offs against Sweden, which ensured their place at the tournament,[372] his hat-trick in the second leg took his international tally to 47 goals, equalling Pauleta's record.[373] Ronaldo subsequently scored twice in a 5–1 friendly win over Cameroon on 5 March 2014 to become his country's all-time top scorer.[374]

Ronaldo took part in the tournament despite suffering from patellar tendinitis and a related thigh injury,[375][376] potentially risking his career.[377] Ronaldo later commented: "If we had two or three Cristiano Ronaldos in the team I would feel more comfortable, but we don't."[378] Despite ongoing doubts over his fitness, being forced to abort practice twice,[379][380] Ronaldo played the full 90 minutes of the opening match against Germany, though he was unable to prevent a 4–0 defeat,[381] after assisting an injury-time 2–2 equaliser against the United States,[382] he scored a late match-winning goal in a 2–1 victory over Ghana.[383] His 50th international goal made him the first Portuguese to play and score in three World Cups.[384] Portugal were eliminated from the tournament at the close of the group stage on goal difference.[383]

Ronaldo scored five goals, including a hat-trick against Armenia, in the qualification for Euro 2016.[385][386][387][388] With the only goal in another victory over Armenia on 14 November 2014, he reached 23 goals in the European Championship, including qualifying matches, to become the competition's all-time leading goalscorer,[389] at the start of the tournament, however, Ronaldo failed to convert his chances in Portugal's draws against Iceland and Austria, despite taking a total of 20 shots on goal. In the latter match, he overtook Luís Figo as his nation's most capped player with his 128th international appearance, which ended scoreless after he missed a penalty in the second half,[390] with two goals and an assist in the last match of the group stage, a 3–3 draw against Hungary, Ronaldo became the first player to score in four European Championships, having made a record 17 appearances in the tournament.[391][392] Though placed third in their group behind Hungary and Iceland, his team qualified for the knockout round as a result of the competition's newly expanded format.[393]

"Cristiano is sacrificing himself, he's working a lot for the team; he's not angry. When he doesn't score he's usually angry, but not now, he works a lot, also defending. You can see he's an authentic leader."

In Portugal's first knockout match, Ronaldo's only attempt on goal was parried by Croatia's goalkeeper into the path of Ricardo Quaresma, whose finish then secured a 1–0 victory late in extra time,[395] after his team progressed past Poland on penalties,[396] Ronaldo became the first player to participate in three European Championship semi-finals;[397] he scored the opening goal and assisted a second in a 2–0 win against Wales, equalling Michel Platini as the competition's all-time top scorer with 9 goals.[398] In the final against hosts France, Ronaldo was forced off after just 25 minutes following a challenge from Dimitri Payet; after multiple treatments and attempts to play on, he was stretchered off the pitch and replaced by Quaresma. During extra time, substitute Eder scored in the 109th minute to earn Portugal a 1–0 victory,[399] as team captain, Ronaldo later lifted the trophy in celebration of his country's first-ever triumph in a major tournament. He was awarded the Silver Boot as the joint second-highest goalscorer, with three goals and three assists, and was named to the team of the tournament for the third time in his career.[400][401]

2016–present: Post-European Championship victory

Following the Euro 2016 success, Ronaldo scored four goals against Andorra in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers on 8 October 2016, his four goals against a nine-man team marked the highest number of goals he has scored in an international match.[402][403] On 13 November, Ronaldo scored two goals (while also missing a penalty) in another qualifier against Latvia, which ended in a 4–1 home victory; these goals brought his international tally to 68 goals, putting level with Gerd Müller and Robbie Keane as the fourth-highest European international goalscorer of all time.[404] He played his first professional match on his home island of Madeira on 28 March 2017 at the age of 32, opening a 2–3 friendly defeat to Sweden at the Estádio dos Barreiros; with the goal, he tied with Miroslav Klose on 71 goals as the third-highest scoring European in international football.[405]

"I admire him [Ronaldo], if I had to set up a national team he would be my first pick."

In Portugal's opening match of the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup against Mexico on 17 June, Cristiano Ronaldo set-up Quaresma's opening goal in a 2–2 draw.[407] Three days later, he scored in a 1–0 win over hosts Russia,[408] on 24 June, he scored from a penalty in a 4–0 win over New Zealand, which saw Portugal top their group and advance to the semi-finals of the competition; with his 75th international goal, Ronaldo also equalled Sándor Kocsis as the second-highest European international goalscorer of all time, behind only Ferenc Puskás.[409][410] He was named man of the match in all three of Portugal's group matches.[411] Ronaldo left the competition early, after Chile defeated Portugal 3–0 on penalties in the semi-finals, he was allowed to return home to be with his newborn children.[412] Therefore, he missed Portugal's third-place play-off match in which Portugal defeated Mexico 2–1 after extra time.[413]

On 31 August 2017, Ronaldo scored a hat-trick in a 5–1 win in a World Cup qualifier over the Faroe Islands, which saw him overtake Pelé and equal Hussein Saeed as the joint-fifth-highest goalscorer in international football, with 78 goals,[414] these goals brought his tally in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers to 14, equalling Predrag Mijatović's record for most goals in a single UEFA senior men's qualifying campaign, and also saw him break the record for the most goals scored in a single European qualifying group, overtaking the previous record of 13 goals set by David Healy and Robert Lewandowski; Ronaldo's hat-trick took his World Cup qualifying goals total to 29, making him the highest scorer in European World Cup qualifiers, ahead of Andriy Shevchenko, and the highest goalscorer in World Cup qualifying and finals matches combined, with 32 goals, ahead of Miroslav Klose.[415]

Player profile

Style of play

Ronaldo in action for Real Madrid against Espanyol during the 2012–13 season

A versatile attacker, Ronaldo is capable of playing on either wing as well as through the centre of the pitch,[416] and, while ostensibly right-footed, is very strong with both feet,[417] he ranks among the world's fastest footballers, both with and without the ball.[418] Tactically, Ronaldo has undergone several evolutions throughout his career. While at Sporting and during his first season at Manchester United, he was typically deployed as a traditional winger on the right side of midfield, where he regularly looked to deliver crosses into the penalty area; in this position, he was able to use his pace and acceleration, agility, and technical skills to take on opponents in one-on-one situations. Ronaldo became noted for his dribbling and flair, often displaying an array of tricks and feints,[418][419] such as the step overs that became his trademark.[420]

As Ronaldo matured, he underwent a major physical transformation, developing a muscular body type that allows him to retain possession of the ball,[421] his strength, combined with his elevation and height of 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in), awarded him an edge in winning aerial challenges for balls; consequently, many of his goals have been headers.[419][422] Concurrently with his increased stamina and work-rate, his goalscoring ability improved drastically on the left wing, where he was given the positional freedom to move into the centre to finish attacks, he also increasingly played a creative role for his team, participating in build-up plays courtesy of his good vision and passing ability.[418]

Ronaldo controlling the ball on his chest during a 2010–11 La Liga game against Almería

In his final seasons at United, Ronaldo played an even more attacking and central role, functioning both as a striker and as a supporting forward, or even as an attacking midfielder on occasion.[423] He developed into a prolific goalscorer, capable of finishing well both inside the penalty area and from distance with an accurate and powerful shot.[146][423][424] An accurate penalty kick taker,[425] he also became a set piece specialist, renowned for his powerful, bendingfree kicks,[426] though his ability in this regard deteriorated later on in his career.[427][428]

At Real Madrid, he continued to play a more offensive role, while his creative and defensive duties became more limited.[423] Initially deployed as a centre forward, he was later moved back onto the left wing, though in a free tactical role, allowing him to drift into the centre at will.[429][430] Madrid's counter-attacking style of play allowed him to become a more efficient and consistent player, as evidenced by his record-breaking goalscoring feats,[431] from 2013 onwards, he effectively adapted his style to the physical effects of ageing with increasingly reduced off-the-ball movement and general involvement, instead focusing on short-distance goalscoring.[420]

Reception

"In the six years [Manchester United] had him, you just saw his game grow all the time, and he was a fantastic player. Now you see the complete player, his decision-making, his maturity, his experience, plus all the great skills he has got, they all make him the complete player."

Ronaldo is widely regarded as one of the two best players of his generation, alongside Lionel Messi,[433][434] and as one of the best players to ever play the game.[435] Acclaimed for his prolific and consistent goalscoring ability, he is considered a decisive player, who stands out in games and who can be a game changer.[436] Ronaldo is noted for his work ethic and dedication to improvement on the training pitch,[437] his drive and determination to succeed are fuelled by a desire to carve his name in history alongside football players such as Pelé and Diego Maradona.[438]

Ronaldo has at times been criticised for diving when tackled, about which his Madrid teammate Sergio Ramos responded after a 3–1 victory over Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup: "He was a long way from me. I think it was a moment of play that unbalanced him and he didn't feign anything,",[439] despite his talent, he was also occasionally criticised early in his career by manager Alex Ferguson, teammates and the media for being a selfish or overly flamboyant player.[440][441]

Earlier in his career, Ronaldo had also been described as having an "arrogant image" on the pitch, with Ronaldo stating that he had become a "victim", because of how he was portrayed in the media,[442] he is often seen moaning, gesticulating and scowling while trying to inspire his team to victory, with Ronaldo insisting that his competitive nature should not be mistaken for arrogance.[442] His managers, teammates and various journalists have commented that this reputation has caused an unfair image of him.[443][444][445][446][447] In 2014, Ronaldo told France Football that he had made a "mistake" when he said in 2011, "People are jealous of me as I am young, handsome and rich", adding that he had matured since then and fans understood him better.[448]

"It's part of my life now. People are bound to compare us, he tries to do his best for his club and for his national team, as I do, and there is a degree of rivalry with both of us trying to do the best for the teams we represent."

Some commentators choose to analyse the differing physiques and playing styles of the two,[453] while part of the debate revolves around the contrasting personalities of the two players: Ronaldo is sometimes depicted as an arrogant and theatrical showoff, while Messi is portrayed as a shy, humble character.[454][455][456][457]

In a 2012 interview, Ronaldo commented on the rivalry, saying "I think we push each other sometimes in the competition, this is why the competition is so high",[458] while Ronaldo's manager during his time at Manchester United, Alex Ferguson, opined that "I don't think the rivalry against each other bothers them. I think they have their own personal pride in terms of wanting to be the best".[459] Messi himself denied any rivalry, saying that it was "only the media, the press, who wants us to be at loggerheads but I've never fought with Cristiano".[460] Responding to the claims that he and Messi do not get on well on a personal level, Ronaldo commented, "We don't have a relationship outside the world of football, just as we don't with a lot of other players", before adding that in years to come he hopes they can laugh about it together, stating; "We have to look on this rivalry with a positive spirit, because it's a good thing."[452] Representing archrivals Barcelona and Real Madrid, the two players face each other at least twice every season in the world's biggest club game, El Clásico, which had a global audience of 400 million viewers in March 2014.[461]

In a debate at Oxford Union in October 2013, when asked whether FIFA president Sepp Blatter preferred Messi or Ronaldo, Blatter paid tribute to the work ethic of the Argentine before taking a swipe at Ronaldo, claiming "one of them has more expenses for the hairdresser than the other". Real Madrid demanded – and promptly received – a full apology, and the Portuguese issued his own riposte with a mock-salute celebration after scoring a penalty against Sevilla, after Blatter had described him as a "commander" on the pitch.[462]

Forbes has twice ranked Ronaldo first on their list of the world's highest-paid football players; his combined income from salaries, bonuses and non-football earnings was $73 million in 2013–14 and $79 million in 2014–15.[463][464] The latter earnings saw him listed behind only boxer Floyd Mayweather, Jr. on the magazine's list of The World's Highest-Paid Athletes.[465] In 2016, he became the first footballer to top the Forbes list of highest-earning athletes, with a total income of $88 million from his salary and endorsements in 2015–16.[466] He topped the list for the second straight year with earnings of $93 million in 2016–17.[467] Ronaldo is one of the world's most marketable athletes: SportsPro rated him the fifth most marketable athlete in 2012,[468] and eighth most marketable athlete in 2013, with Brazilian footballer Neymar topping both lists.[468][469] Sports market research company Repucom named Ronaldo the most marketable and most recognised football player in the world in May 2014,[470] he was additionally named in the 2014 Time 100, Time's annual list of the most influential people in the world.[471]ESPN named Ronaldo the world's most famous athlete in 2016 and 2017.[472][473]

As his reputation grew from his time at Manchester United, Ronaldo signed many sponsorship deals for consumer products, including e.g. sportswear (he wears Nike Mercurial Vapor CR7 boots), soft drinks, clothing, automotive lubricants, financial services, electronics, computer video games, and much more.[474][475][476][477][478][479] Ronaldo was featured as the cover athlete of EA Sports' FIFA video gameFIFA 18 and he was heavily involved in the game's promotion.[480]

Ronaldo has established a strong online presence; the most popular sportsperson on social media, he counted 158 million total followers across Facebook, Twitter and Instagram by June 2015.[481] As of June 2015, he has the world's biggest Facebook fanbase with 103 million followers:[481] he became the first sportsperson to reach 50 million followers in August 2010,[482] and in October 2014, he became the first sportsperson, and the second person after Shakira, to reach 100 million followers.[483] By June 2017, Ronaldo had 277 million followers across social media.[467] His sponsors earned $936 million in media value across his social media accounts between June 2016 to June 2017.[467] Ronaldo has released two mobile apps: in December 2011, he launched an iPhone game called Heads Up with Cristiano, created by developer RockLive,[484] and in December 2013, he launched Viva Ronaldo, a dedicated social networking website and mobile app.[485] Computer security company McAfee produced a 2012 report ranking footballers by the probability of an internet search for their name leading to an unsafe website, with Ronaldo's name first on the list.[486]

Ronaldo's life and person have been the subject of several works, his autobiography, titled Moments, was published in December 2007.[487] His sponsor Castro produced the television film Ronaldo: Tested to the Limit, in which he is physically and mentally tested in several areas; his physical performance was consequently subject to scrutiny by world media upon the film's release in September 2011.[488]Cristiano Ronaldo: The World at His Feet, a documentary narrated by the actor Benedict Cumberbatch, was released via Vimeo in June 2014.[489] A documentary film about his life and career, titled Ronaldo, was released worldwide on 9 November 2015.[490] Directed by BAFTA-winner Anthony Wonke, the film is produced and distributed by Universal Pictures, while Asif Kapadia is the executive producer.[491]

In 2007, C.D. Nacional renamed their youth campus Cristiano Ronaldo Campus Futebol (Cristiano Ronaldo Football Campus).[492] In December 2013, Ronaldo opened a museum, Museu CR7, in his hometown of Funchal, Madeira, to house trophies and memorabilia of his life and playing career;[493] the museum is an official sponsor of the local football team União da Madeira.[494][495] At a ceremony held at the Belém Palace in January 2014, President of Portugal Aníbal Cavaco Silva raised Ronaldo to the rank of Grand Officer of the Order of Prince Henry, "to distinguish an athlete of world renown who has been a symbol of Portugal globally, contributing to the international projection of the country and setting an example of tenacity for future generations".[496] A bronze statue of Ronaldo, designed by artist Ricardo Madeira Veloso, was unveiled in Funchal on 21 December 2014.[497][498]

Outside football

Personal life

Ronaldo's father, José Dinis Aveiro, died of an alcoholism-related liver condition at age 52 in September 2005 when Ronaldo was 20.[510][511] Ronaldo has said that he does not drink alcohol, and he received libel damages over a Daily Mirror article that reported him drinking heavily in a nightclub while recovering from an injury in July 2008.[512]

"In football I don't have a lot of friends. People I really trust? Not many. Most of the time I'm alone. I consider myself an isolated person."

–During the filming of his authorized biography, Ronaldo admitted to often preferring solitude while working, attributing it to his autonomous way of living.[378]

Ronaldo was in a relationship with Russian model Irina Shayk from 2010–2015.[513][514] Ronaldo became father to a son in June 2010.[515][516] Ronaldo announced that he had full custody.[517] Ronaldo has never publicly revealed the identity of his son's mother;[518] in June 2017, Ronaldo confirmed on Facebook that he had become the father to twins.[519][520] Five months later, his girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez gave birth to their daughter.[521][522]

Philanthropy

Television footage of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami showed an eight-year-old boy survivor named Martunis wearing a number 7 Portuguese football shirt who was stranded for 19 days after his family was killed. Following this, Ronaldo visited Aceh, Indonesia, to raise funds for rehabilitation and reconstruction,[523][524] after accepting undisclosed damages from a libel case against The Sun newspaper in 2008, Ronaldo donated the damages to a charity in Madeira.[525] In 2009, Ronaldo donated £100,000 to the hospital that saved his mother's life in Madeira following her battle with cancer, so that they could build a cancer centre on the island;[526] in support of the victims of the 2010 Madeira flood, Ronaldo pledged to play in a charity match in Madeira between Primeira Liga club Porto and players from Madeiran-based clubs Marítimo and Nacional.[527]

In 2012, Ronaldo and his agent paid for specialist treatment for a nine-year-old Canarian boy with apparently terminal cancer;[528] in November 2012, Ronaldo sold the golden boot he had won in 2011 for €1.5 million and gave the money to fund schools for children in Gaza.[529] In December 2012, Ronaldo joined FIFA's '11 for Health' programme to raise awareness amongst kids of how to steer clear of conditions including drug addiction, HIV, malaria and obesity.[530][531]

In January 2013, Ronaldo became Save the Children's new Global Artist Ambassador, in which he hopes to help fight child hunger and obesity;[532] in March, Ronaldo agreed to be the ambassador for The Mangrove Care Forum in Indonesia, an organisation aiming to raise awareness of mangrove conservation.[533]

In November 2014, Ronaldo appeared in FIFA's "11 against Ebola" campaign with a selection of top football players from around the world, including Neymar, Gareth Bale, Xavi and Didier Drogba.[534] Under the slogan "Together, we can beat Ebola", FIFA's campaign was done in conjunction with the Confederation of African Football and health experts, with the players holding up eleven messages to raise awareness of the disease and ways to combat it.[534] He was named the world's most charitable sportsperson in 2015;[535] in June 2016, Ronaldo donated the entirety of his €600,000 Champions League bonus after Real Madrid won the 2015–16 UEFA Champions League.[535]

In August 2016, Ronaldo launched CR7Selfie, a selfie app for charity to help Save the Children that lets participants take a selfie with him in one of several different outfits and poses;[536] in the app, fans can select from among 68 photos of Ronaldo in different outfits and poses, and scroll through 39 filters to apply to their selfies.[537]

Fashion

Ronaldo is known as a fashion icon, and is a lucrative spokesperson sought after by clothing designers, health and fitness specialists, fashion magazines, perfume and cosmetics manufacturers, hair stylists, exercise promoters, and spa and recreation companies. One example is a line of fragrances called Legacy.[538]

He opened his first fashion boutique under the name "CR7" (his initials and shirt number) on the island of Madeira, Portugal in 2006. Ronaldo expanded his business with a second clothes boutique in Lisbon in 2008.[539]

In partnership with Scandinavian manufacturer JBS Textile Group and the New York fashion designer Richard Chai, Ronaldo co-designed a range of underwear and sock line, released in November 2013,[540] he later expanded his CR7 fashion brand by launching a line of premium shirts[541] and shoes by July 2014.[542] In June 2015, Ronaldo announced that he would be releasing his own fragrance by the end of the year, in a partnership with Eden Parfums.[543]

Controversies

In 2017, Ronaldo was charged with fraudulently evading almost €15 million in tax between 2011 and 2014, a claim which he denies,[544] as of September 2017 the court case is ongoing.

In April 2017, a story was published by Der Spiegel based on leaked documents provided by Football Leaks relating to an alleged rape by Ronaldo, stating that the alleged assault occurred in 2009 but that a legal agreement and accompanying non-disclosure agreement was entered into, resulting in the alleged charges being dropped.[545] Ronaldo's agent Jorge Mendes denied the claims labelling them 'journalistic fiction', with the player stating it was consensual sex.[546]Der Spiegel published a further story in response to the denial, alleging that text messages sent by Ronaldo showed that he was aware of the legal negotiations.[545]

^Real Madrid had previously recognized Ronaldo as their all-time top scorer after he scored a brace against Malmö FF on 30 September 2015. The club's official record book attributes to Ronaldo a 74th-minute goal in a 2–1 win over Real Sociedad on 18 September 2010, despite his free-kick having been deflected by Pepe.[275][276]

^ ab"Cristiano Ronaldo Bio, Stats, News". ESPN FC. Retrieved 26 February 2012. Quotes: "I have nothing but praise for the boy. He is easily the best player in the world, he is better than Kaka and better than Messi. He is streets ahead of them all, his contribution as a goal threat is unbelievable. His stats are incredible. Strikes at goal, attempts on goal, raids into the penalty box, headers, it is all there. Absolutely astounding." Sir Alex Ferguson, July 2009.

^ ab"Ronaldo named UEFA Best Player in Europe". Union of European Football Associations. 28 August 2014. Retrieved 28 June 2016. After being named the winner of the UEFA Best Player in Europe Award for 2013/14 in Monaco, Cristiano Ronaldo gave his reaction to UEFA.com.

^ ab"Ronaldo makes history with 100th European goal". Union of European Football Associations. 12 April 2017. Retrieved 13 April 2017. Cristiano Ronaldo has become the first player to reach a century of goals in UEFA club competition after scoring twice for Real Madrid at Bayern München.

^"Cristiano Ronaldo named Best Player in Europe". UEFA. 25 August 2016. Retrieved 8 November 2016. A UEFA Champions League winner with Real Madrid and a European champion with Portugal, Cristiano Ronaldo has claimed the 2015/16 UEFA Best Player in Europe Award.

^ abLey, Robert (21 September 2015). "CRISTIANO RONALDO, TONI KROOS AND THE REAL MADRID CLUB HONORED IN MADRID". International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS). Last week, a IFFHS delegation was in Madrid to give the Trophies for THE WORLD'S BEST TOP GOALSCORER 2014 and THE WORLD'S BEST FIRST DIVISION SCORER 2014 to Cristiano Ronaldo, for THE WORLD'S BEST PLAYMAKER 2014 to Toni Kroos and THE WORLD'S BEST CLUB 2014 to Real Madrid CF, represented by his captain Sergio Ramos.

^"UEFA Champions League squad of the season". UEFA. 2 June 2014. Retrieved 1 September 2014. Cristiano Ronaldo, who registered a season-record 17 goals in the campaign, is joined by Marco Reus, Arjen Robben and Zlatan Ibrahimović.

^"UEFA Champions League squad of the season". UEFA. 30 May 2016. Retrieved 3 June 2016. Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann all feature in the UEFA technical observers' Squad of the Season, but who else has made the 18-man selection?

^"UEFA Champions League Squad of the Season". UEFA. 5 June 2017. Retrieved 16 June 2017. Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Robert Lewandowski all feature in the UEFA Technical Observers' Squad of the Season, but who else has made the 18-man selection?

^ ab"Five madridistas pick up prizes at the Facebook Football Awards". Madrid, Spain: Real Madrid C.F. 12 May 2016. Retrieved 13 July 2016. Ronaldo (best striker and best player), James (best goal), Modric (best midfielder), Marcelo (best defender) and Navas (best goalkeeper) were the winners at the ceremony which took place at Facebook's offices in Madrid. The Real Madrid fans were also chosen as the best supporters in La Liga.

^"Cristiano Ronaldo breaks another record". Madrid, Spain: Real Madrid C.F. 24 June 2016. Retrieved 10 July 2016. He is the only player in the world who has scored in the last three World Cups and last four Euros... Following his two goals against Hungary, he is the only player to have scored for his national team in the last seven major international tournaments, the madridista forward has made his mark in the 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016 editions of the Euro; and in the 2006, 2010 and 2014 editions of the World Cup.

^Saffer, Paul (16 February 2018). "Ronaldo's Madrid 100: most goals for one #UCL club". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations (UEFA). Retrieved 19 February 2018. Cristiano Ronaldo is the first player to score 100 goals for a single club in the UEFA Champions League, just pipping Lionel Messi to the honour.

^"UEFA.com users' Team of the Year 2015: lowdown". UEFA. 8 January 2016. Retrieved 23 November 2017. Cristiano Ronaldo is the first to ten selections and uniquely has appeared in more than one position: midfield (2004, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010) and up front (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015).

^Corrigan, Dermot (3 March 2018). "Cristiano Ronaldo becomes fastest to score 300th goal in La Liga". ESPN. Retrieved 9 March 2018. The Portugal captain is only second player ever to reach 300 in the Spanish league -- Barcelona's Lionel Messi is the other -- but Ronaldo did it in 48 games fewer games: 286 compared to 334 by Messi, who reached his triple century last February at Sporting Gijon.

^"History of the Premier League". The Official Website of the Barclays Premier League. Archived from the original on 5 December 2013. Retrieved 5 December 2013. Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo is top scorer with 31 goals – in just 31 Premier League starts – tying Alan Shearer's record for a 38-match season.